http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/technology/technology.html

This web quest is designed to assist you in learning more about the technology used to explore deep ocean environments and to assist you in designing your own Deep Sea Exploration Adventure (D-SEA). Water pressure increases and sunlight decreases with ocean depth and conducting research is such extreme environments requires a tremendous amount of technology to provide safe research equipment and techniques. Open the NOAA Ocean Explorer website (shown above) to begin your research and planning for your trip to “D-SEA.” Type the Ocean Explorer web address in the address box of your Internet browser and click the GO button to begin your exploration.

Read the opening paragraph on this page and respond to the following:

Why is it important for scientists to explore the ocean in “noninvasive ways?”

(type response here, box will expand as you type)

Scroll to the paragraphs with the subheadings Vessels, Submersibles, Diving, and Observation Tools. Read the summary paragraph for Vessels and note the various types of research and support offered by NOAA’s research vessels. Let’s look more closely at these vessels to determine which ship will be most useful in our D-SEA.

Click the Vessels link and scroll through the 16 research vessels currently in use by NOAA. Select one of these research vessels for your investigation and record the name of the vessel here:

Click the link to the research vessel you selected and complete the following table:

1. What is the name of the home port or location where this vessel is docked?
2. What is the length and tonnage of this ship? / Length = Tons =
3. What type of research and support does this vessel provide for scientists?
4. What regions of the world does this vessel travel to for ocean research?

Locate and click the Technology link found along the top menu bar of this web page and return to the subheading paragraphs at the bottom of the page. As you investigate each of the three methods of research NOAA conducts, consider which method you will need for your D-SEA. Use the table below to organize your research objectives. Begin your research by comparing the Diving method with the Submersible method.

Method of Research / Diving / Submersibles
When did this method originate? / (Diving page, paragraph 3) / (Submersibles:Alvin, paragraph 1)
What is the depth limit for this method? / (Diving page, paragraph 4) / (Submersibles:Mir, paragraph 1)
What are the advantages? / (Diving:SCUBA page, paragraph 2) / (Submersibles, paragraph 2)
What are the disadvantages? / (Diving:SCUBA page, paragraph 3) / (Submersibles:Alvin, last paragraph)
Equipment Needed: / (Diving:SCUBA page, paragraph 4) / (Submersibles:Alvin, paragraph 10)

Scroll to the top of the page and locate the Technology link. Click this link and then locate and click the Observation Tools link. The tools shown along the right side of this page include a variety of remote sensing research methods used by scientists to explore the ocean from the surface to the seafloor. Use the links listed in the following table to determine if any of these tools will be needed for our D-SEA.

(HINT: Use the images on each page to locate the equipment and type of data collected.)

Observation Tool Link / Equipment Used with Tool / Type of Data Collected
Acoustic Monitoring
Bushmaster and Chimneymaster
Drifters
Sonde and CDT
Trawlers

Planning your D-SEA

Review your Ocean Explorer research and plan your D-SEA based on the following:

Ø  We are searching for a deep-sea ecosystem known as hydrothermal vent systems.

Ø  These vent systems are found on the seafloor near mid-ocean ridges and are miles beneath the ocean’s surface.

Ø  Our objective is to locate the vent system and identify any life forms we observe in a noninvasive way.

Select the research method needed for your D-SEA as well as the research vessel you will need to support your mission.

Circle your choice selections

Research Method Choices:
SCUBA Diving
Submersibles
Observation Tools / Research Vessel Choices:
R/V Cape Fear
R/V Atlantis
NOAA Ship Ron Brown

Provide an explanation for the research method and vessel you chose:

(type response here, box will expand as you type)

Let’s go to D-SEA!!

Locate the Deep-Sea Trieste webquest and begin your adventure into the ocean’s depths.

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